What happens when you transfer a domain to GoDaddy

When you transfer a domain to GoDaddy, you are moving the registration records from your current registrar to GoDaddy's servers. GoDaddy becomes the company that manages your domain renewal, DNS settings, and contact information. The domain itself stays the same — your website keeps working, your email keeps working, and visitors reach you the same way they did before.

The transfer process takes between 5 and 7 days in most cases. During that time, your domain continues to work normally. You do not need to take your website offline, and you do not need to move your website files themselves — only the registration moves.

You will need three things before you start: access to your current registrar account, your domain's authorization code (sometimes called an auth code or transfer code), and the ability to confirm the transfer through email.

Key Takeaways

  • You must unlock your domain at your current registrar and get an authorization code before GoDaddy can accept the transfer.
  • The transfer takes 5 to 7 days and your domain continues to work throughout the process.
  • You will receive an email asking you to confirm the transfer — if you do not respond, the transfer will not complete.
  • GoDaddy charges a transfer fee, which varies by domain extension (.com, .org, .net, and so on), and usually includes one year of renewal.
  • If your domain is within 60 days of expiring, you may not be able to transfer until you renew it first.

Getting your authorization code from your current registrar

Log into your account at your current registrar — this might be Network Solutions, Namecheap, 1&1, or another company. Look for a section called Domain Management, My Domains, or Domain Settings. Find your domain in the list.

Look for an option to unlock the domain or request an authorization code. Different registrars use different names: some call it "Unlock Domain," others call it "Get Auth Code" or "Transfer Code." The option is usually in a menu next to the domain name or in a details page for that domain.

Click that option. Your registrar will either show you the code when ready or email it to you within a few minutes. The code is usually a string of letters and numbers, 4 to 16 characters long. Copy it and keep it somewhere you can find it — you will need it in the next step.

Some registrars require you to disable WHOIS privacy protection before you can unlock the domain. If you see a message about that, turn off privacy protection first, then request the authorization code again.

Starting the transfer at GoDaddy

Go to GoDaddy.com and click on the "Transfer Domain" link. You will find it in the top navigation or by searching the site. Enter your domain name in the search box and click the button to check if it can be transferred.

GoDaddy will show you the transfer price for your domain extension. This price includes one year of registration renewal, so your domain will be renewed for an additional year when the transfer completes. The price varies by extension — .com transfers cost one amount, .org transfers cost another, and specialty extensions may cost more.

Add the domain to your cart and proceed to checkout. You will need to create a GoDaddy account or log in if you already have one. During checkout, you will see a field asking for the authorization code. Paste the code you got from your current registrar into this field.

Complete the payment. GoDaddy will send you a confirmation email with details about the transfer.

Confirming the transfer through email

Within a few hours of starting the transfer, you will receive an email from GoDaddy asking you to confirm it. The email will come to the address listed as the domain's administrative contact at your current registrar. Open that email and look for a link or button that says "Approve" or "Confirm Transfer."

Click that link. This step is required — if you do not confirm within the timeframe given (usually 5 to 7 days), the transfer will be cancelled and you will not be charged.

You may also receive an email from your current registrar asking you to approve the transfer. If you do, click the approval link in that email as well. Some registrars require this step before they will release the domain.

Checking the transfer status

Log into your GoDaddy account and go to My Products or My Domains. Find your domain in the list. GoDaddy shows the transfer status there — it will say something like "Pending," "In Progress," or "Complete."

The transfer usually completes within 5 to 7 days. During this time, your domain continues to work normally. You can check the status as often as you want; checking does not speed up or slow down the process.

Once the status shows "Complete," your domain is now registered with GoDaddy. You can manage it, renew it, and change its DNS settings from your GoDaddy account.

What to do if the transfer gets stuck or fails

If the transfer status stays "Pending" after 7 days, check your email for a confirmation message you may have missed. Search your inbox and spam folder for emails from GoDaddy or your old registrar. If you find a confirmation email you did not click, click the link now.

If you cannot find a confirmation email, log into your GoDaddy account and look for a way to resend the confirmation. You can also contact GoDaddy support through their website — they can resend the confirmation email or tell you what is blocking the transfer.

If your domain is very close to its expiration date, your current registrar may not allow the transfer. In that case, renew the domain at your current registrar first, wait a day or two, then start the transfer process again.

After the transfer is complete

Once the transfer finishes, your domain is managed through GoDaddy. Your website and email continue to work without any interruption. You do not need to do anything else unless you want to change your DNS settings or other domain settings.

If you had DNS records set up at your old registrar, those records do not automatically move to GoDaddy. You will need to add them to GoDaddy manually if you want to keep using the same DNS configuration. Log into your GoDaddy account, find your domain, and look for DNS or Nameserver settings. Add the same records you had before.

Your domain will renew automatically each year through GoDaddy on the anniversary of the transfer. You can change the renewal settings or turn off auto-renewal in your GoDaddy account at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a domain that is locked?

No. You must unlock it at your current registrar first. A locked domain cannot be transferred to any other registrar. Unlocking takes a few minutes and you can do it from your registrar's account settings.

What if I do not have access to my old registrar account?

Contact your old registrar's support team and explain that you need to transfer the domain. They can unlock it and send you the authorization code, or they may be able to help you regain access to your account. You will need to prove you own the domain.

Will my website go down during the transfer?

No. Your website continues to work normally throughout the transfer. The domain registration moves to GoDaddy, but your website files stay where they are and keep working. Visitors can reach your site the entire time.

Can I transfer a domain that is about to expire?

Most registrars do not allow transfers within 60 days of expiration. If your domain is close to expiring, renew it at your current registrar first, then start the transfer. After the transfer completes, you will have added another year through GoDaddy.

How much does a domain transfer cost?

The cost varies by domain extension. GoDaddy's website shows the transfer price for your specific domain before you complete the purchase. The price includes one year of renewal, so your domain registration is extended by one year when the transfer finishes.